Author: HMUD

NHCRWA Implements Stage 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan

The City of Houston (COH), the primary source of water for the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (Authority), has entered stage two of their Drought Contingency Plan, effective on August 27, 2023. The COH’s drought response calls for mandatory water conservations efforts to reduce water use, that will reduce the daily volume of water delivered. The Houston Public Works Release can be found under https://cityofhouston.news/stagetwodrought.

As required by the Authority’s Drought Contingency Plan, the Authority must enter Stage 2 of our Drought Contingency Plan, when the COH enters into Stage 2 water shortage of their Drought Contingency Plan. The Authority’s Drought Contingency Plan requires that any customer receiving water from the Authority or well owner whose well is included under the Authority’s Harris-Galveston Subsidence District aggregate water well permit:

  • Repair detectible water leaks within 72 hours of discovery;
  • Utilize water conservation measures such as displacement bags, low-flow shower heads and leak detection tablets;
  • Limit outdoor irrigation to the hours 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day on no more than two (2) days per week, in conformity with the following schedule (no watering on Mondays):
    • Sundays and Thursdays for single-family residential customers with even-numbered street addresses
    • Saturdays and Wednesdays for single-family residential customers with odd-numbered street addresses; and
    • Tuesdays and Fridays for all other customers

Compliance with the above requirements is mandatory.

NHCRWA implements Stage 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan 08-24-2023

North Harris County Regional Water Authority

Weather Update as of 12/19/22

  • The approaching arctic air outbreak will be the coldest air mass since February 2021.
  • It is forecast that temperatures will drop quickly Thursday Night into Friday Morning.
    • Temperatures likely to be in the teens north of Highway 105, near 20 degrees near I-10, and in the mid 20s south of I-10
    • Many areas could be below freezing for 20-36 hours
  • Many areas will likely not get above freezing on Friday.
  • Though warming into the upper 30s will occur on Saturday, temperatures will drop below freezing on Saturday Night/Sunday Morning

Important to Protect the Four Ps

Cold weather can pose a danger to the health and safety of Houston residents, and proper care should be taken to reduce your exposure to these conditions. When cold weather occurs, Houstonians should remember to protect People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants.

People

  • Dress in warm clothing, wear gloves, coats and layers when you’re outside.
  • Never leave children or the elderly in vehicles during cold weather, as they act as a refrigerator and can result in sub-freezing temperatures.
  • Never use a generator, grill, camp-stove or any gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device to heat your home (or any enclosed area). This can generate carbon monoxide, which cannot be seen or smelled, but is deadly.

Pets

  • Protect your pets by ensuring that they have a warm, safe place to sleep. The best place for a dog or cat is to sleep in a heated environment.
  • Be sure not to shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth.
  • Never leave your animal in a car during cold weather. Cars can cat as refrigerators in the interior, holding in the cold and causing animals to freeze to death.

Pipes

  • Protect pipes from freezing by leaving them on a small, slow drip during the freezing hours.
  • Open lower cabinet doors to expose pipes to the warmth of the home.

Plants

  • Protect plants from freezing by covering them with plant-cover fabric, or a light blanket with plastic sheeting on top of it.

Be sure to group plants that are in containers together, and near your home. Remember that soil in containers can get just as cold as the air temperature, and cause the roots to freeze, even if the above-surface leaves survive.

National Weather Service Information

  • Thursday into the Christmas Holiday
    • The Arctic front is on track to move into the area on Thursday. It will bring periods of freezing temperatures (and likely some <25°) into much of the weekend.
    • Too early to confidently pinpoint exactly just how low readings will fall, or how many consecutive hours below freezing any single location will get.
    • Confidence is high that we will see some bitterly cold air and freezing temperatures, but don’t focus on any individual model, or model run, this far out.
    • The specifics will change as time progresses.
  • All businesses and residents should begin preparation for some hard freezes before the coldest weather is set to move in on Thursday.
  • For industry that needs an extended amount of lead time, the NWS encourages individuals to review plans/actions that might need to be implemented should conditions warrant (any extended durations of subfreezing temperatures, gale force winds, high seas, low water conditions, etc.)